Day Six - It's All About The Details

Getting her ready to fish

Day 6 was devoted to some of the details necessary to get the boat ready to fish. After the last day was spent gluing foam to the sides of the boat, I needed to work on simpler, less complicated stuff.

I started out applying a large "bone fish" decals to the rear of the boat. After trying different locations, I settled on having the bone fish eating the Hewes logo. The decal went on without a hitch.

The bow hatch

The Hewes came with a new Interstate Deep Cycle battery and a Minn Kota battery charger stored in the bow hatch on a shelf. I put the three anchors in the hatch below the shelf along with the throw cushion and my inflatable PFD. In between these I put a bucket with all the cleaning products. Last but not least, I installed a second deep cycle battery as a backup for the battery that came with the boat.

Cooler seat/fish box

Next, I put an inexpensive 25 quart Igloo cooler in front of the center console and installed a seat cushion on it to serve as a passenger seat and a fish box. Rather than anchoring the cooler with tie down kits and drilling holes in the deck, I placed it on a non-skid rubber pad to minimize any sliding around on the deck. This cooler will always have a couple of bags of ice in it so even without someone sitting on it the weight of the ice should keep the cooler in place. 

Fishing tackle

The Lifetime cooler in front of the bow

I did the same with a 55 quart Lifetime cooler that I placed in front of the bow platform. This cooler will be a backup fish box but primarily I will use it to store my fishing tackle. I will also use it as a bow casting platform by moving it onto the bow.

Installing the cushion button snaps on the rear hatches 

To finish up the day, I installed a 75 quart cooler cushion on the rear hatches to serve as my seat. Installation was the same as installing the cushion on the Igloo cooler, drilling holes and screwing in the button snaps that came with the cushion. To access the hatches, I only have to unsnap the three rear snaps and the cushion is easily moved out of the way.

Starboard view

Port view

A productive day with a lot accomplished and I couldn't be more pleased with the way it's turning out, especially given the budget I set for myself.  She's almost ready for the first fishing trip.